Aliquotting serum or plasma samples from the Women's Health Initiative

National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, plans to procure on a sole source basis services to aliquot serum or plasma samples from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, WHI Clinical Coordinating Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $14.0 Millions. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. The period of performance is twelve (12) months from date of award. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. NCI/DCEG requires the contractor to select and ship serum or plasma specimens from the repository archives of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in the Specimen Processing Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The selected specimens will be assayed for total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin concentrations as part of a pooled investigation of multiple myeloma risk in the NCI Cohort Consortium. It has been hypothesized that the observed excess risk of multiple myeloma (MM) among obese individuals could be due to altered circulating levels of adiponectin, a polypeptide hormone with anti-inflammatory properties secreted by adipose tissue. In a recent prospective investigation of 174 MM cases and 348 controls in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, inverse associations with MM for both total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin were observed. The results of this study suggest that adiponectin may play a role in obesity-related myelomagenesis. Replication of this finding in other prospective cohorts is critical. A pooled nested case-control study of MM risk in relation to total and HMW adiponectin is being conducted using prospectively collected blood samples from six cohorts participating in the NCI Cohort Consortium, including subjects from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) manages and stores the prospectively collected specimens from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). As the FHCRC is the only research institution that possesses the samples, they are the only institution that can select and aliquot the samples that will be included in the pooled investigation of circulating adiponectin and multiple myeloma. It is essential to have careful records and inventory of the specimens. Specimens collected prospectively in the WHI are used by a large number of investigators for research projects, including previous investigations conducted by the NCI. Since a large number of additional cases and controls are needed to replicate previous findings of an association between adiponectin and multiple myeloma, it is critical to include specimens and data from the WHI in this effort. Since the FHCRC is the only research institution that possesses the samples collected from participants in the WHI, they are the only institution that can select and aliquot the samples that will be included in the pooled investigation of circulating adiponectin and multiple myeloma. This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small business believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a proposal or quote which will be considered by the Government. The responses and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 11:00 AM EST, on September 12, 2013. All responses and questions must be in writing and faxed +1 (555) 000-0000 or emailed to Reyes Rodriguez, Contracting Specialist via electronic mail at contact@example.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) through sam.gov. Reference: NCI-130141-RR on all correspondence.